Unfortunately, I never took the opportunity to compete when I attended Taekwondo classes. My instructor tried convincing me on numerous occasions, but I didn't give in. Now, after having left the school about six years ago, I wish I had competed. One reason why I didn't compete was because I really dislike being among a big crowd. It's not so much as shyness but rather just something I disliked. Another reason was the only sparring that the vast majority of competitions did was point-sparring.

Competitions are the only events in which you can actually put what you learn to application. Not to mention test what you know against someone else, let alone experiment with techniques, combinations, etcetera.

Anyway, if you want to compete, then by all means compete. Don't pass up on a chance like that if you really want it.

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely take it to heart. If I don't decide to compete, at least I will get something out of it. I will be in shape and will have the tools to defend myself, if I ever need to. Also, I will have more self-confidence. I don't feel like I am wasting my time, regardless of what I do with what I have learned. Competition is a big step to me. When the time comes for me to decide if I want to or not, only I will be able to make that decision. Everyone's thoughts and advice will be on my mind at that point in my life and I appreciate it.

Muay Thai and TKD is good practice, but I don't see how you can study either with out sparring they are hands on sports. You can practice the moves but until you learn to apply them thats all you are doing is that. Unless you just started you have sparred in the gym with other people your size and near your level.

Sparring other Muay Thai fighters from other gyms help you defend the near same techniques applied in different ways, its not good to just work within your gyms method you can learn from working with other gym technicans. The same is true with any fighting system.

Usually the Instructors won't let you be over matched, they know this is a confidence building stage of training. Training seeing and feeling what works best for you is the true proof of the pudding in these arts. The good thing about MT is you can grab (close) and push to the ground if they get too rough anybody can do that.

If your Instructor ask you he must see potential or that you need that little push. It will make you far more confidence in what you are doing and where you are in your training.

Me a fellow girl =) I haven't competed...I probably won't until I hit my 1 year mark or when I feel like I'm made alot of improvements in my health and in my MA skills. Plus in my heart I know I'm not ready.

I feel the same way. I don't believe I'm anywhere near ready to compete (only been doing this for 3 months). However, I'm really gonna leave it up to my coach when the time comes. If she thinks I'm ready, and if I feel ready, then I will go ahead and compete.

I've only been doing my thing for 4-5 months. I do Kickboxing, Kali Silat, JKD, BJJ, Muay Thia, and Shaolin Kenpo...a few years ago I was doing Shotokan Karate....

At the dojo I go to every six months they have Fight Night...which explains itself...the next one is in November. That would be my 6 month mark. I don't feel I'm ready. Maybe when the next one comes in May 20 08 I'll be ready.

I am doing kickboxing and MMA. It's a lot of fun! My husband and I spar at home, with protective gear, and I can tell I'm getting better. It's just taking me longer to get the hang of things than I originally anticipated. But, we all have to go at our own pace. I'm sure you will be ready by next May. You seem to have quite a bit going on. I wish you luck and keep us posted when you do compete.

heh heh you pretty much do what I do. What does your MMA consist of? Usually fight night at our dojo is mostly for the KB fighters. Most of the ones who go to that have been training at the dojo for at least 3+ years. And they are stronger than me and physically better. They scare me still LOL.

But me personally I have the Martial Art/MMA/BJJ and etc. advantage they don't. Though I don't know if I can include that into the bout. I know I'm improving and it's coming to the point where I understand when they say doing 1000's of repetitions will make it come naturally...and I see it happening with me sometimes.

My training has consisted of kickboxing, up until this week, when my dojo decided to throw some MMA into the classes. I haven't been to class yet (going tonight), but my husband went last night. The MMA part of class consisted of grounding and pounding and a small amount of grappling to get your opponent into a more submissive position. Sounds like a lot of fun and I can't wait for class tonight. Not sure which martial art that technique comes from, but you get the idea I guess. My original plan was to fight to kickboxing rules, but the competition is limited since I'm female. There seem to be more females in MMA, so I'm looking at pursuing that type of fighting style. Not really interested in a lot of grappling, just enough to survive if the fight goes to the ground. MMA fighting has a lot more freedom (elbows and knees) and that type of fighting seems to suit me more. I watch UFC and IFL Battleground and love it. I wish there were more women involved in this sport. I would love to see Gina Carano fight, but I don't have Showtime. Maybe with time, this sport will be less dominated by men, but for now, we have to deal .

Ground fighting is usually wrestling, sambo, bJJ or one of the other ones I forgot. I love UFC, I'm more of a ground and pound kinda person than a striking/standup person. That's funny how there's mostly females in your MMA class...there' mostly males in mine. And more females in KB. I love MMA and BJJ and Martial arts in general. I think it still amazes people that I love it (as a female) because no one in my circle of friends or even friends of freinds are interested in martial arts and when I told them I MMA training among KB and others...they are like WHOA lol...I love UFC, Pride, IFL, and WEC. I watch it all the time. It's funny how i used to watch it for fun but now I'm in MMA I watch it to study and learn lol.